Paul Dimattina slapped with $10,000 Covid fine

Paul Dimattina has been flooded with offers to help pay a $10k fine after his hotel breached Victoria’s latest lockdown.

Paul Dimattina, owner of Lamaro’s, has been slapped with a $10,000 fine. Picture: Alex Coppel

Former AFL star Paul Dimattina says he’s been overwhelmed by the public support after being slapped with a $10,000 fine when Victoria’s sixth lockdown was implemented last week.

Dimattina said his South Melbourne restaurant Lamaro’s was not trading when police arrived hours after the 8pm curfew came into effect on Thursday.

“I want to thank everyone who has reached out, people have been offering to pay the fine but I’ve directed them to our website and they’ve bought a gift voucher as a future patron,’’ Dimattina said.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the love and the sense of community spirit.”

Dimattina stressed he had nothing negative to say about police but he was upset and confused given the hotel wasn’t open at the time.

He said a few family members and his business partner were having a drink to console him in the face of yet another lockdown.

He said he was struggling with a health condition and his mental health.

The publican is battling myasthenia gravis and has been receiving chemotherapy.

Paul Dimattina, owner of Lamaro's restaurant, has been an outspoken critic of lockdowns. Picture: David Caird

It has been noted that two vocal critics of the Andrews government, Dimattina and Chris Lucas, were fined.

Lucas’ Society restaurant in the CBD also copped a fine last Thursday.

Collingwood champion Dane Swan tweeted: “Anyone think it’s strange that 2 restauranteurs who have been publicly critical of the Vic gov have been fined for maybe breaking rules but people that continually break the rules & are literally responsible for sending us back into lockdowns get a pat on the back? Coz I don’t”.

In June, Dimattina said he was haemorrhaging $28,000 a week and labelled the situation for businesses and workers as “financial armageddon”.

He gave a raw and emotional account of the challenges.

“This is soul destroying,’’ the former Western Bulldogs player said.

In July he was approached about running as a Liberal Party candidate at the next state election in a potential head-to-head clash with the Health Minister Martin Foley in Albert Park.

He has been highly critical of Premier Daniel Andrews and the lack of support for businesses.

“We were the most liveable city in the world … we’re not anymore, which is really sad. I’m a proud Victorian, well, I was, I can’t say I am anymore,’’ he said.